Endorsement: Delgado for West Chicago Ward 2 alderman

Voters in West Chicago’s Ward 2 have an interesting choice April 9 among three candidates for alderman. They can choose to go with the status quo in the form of incumbent H. Ronald Monroe. A member of the city council for eight years and a West Chicago resident for 40 years, Monroe cites his experience as his chief asset and increasing economic development as the No. 1 issue facing the city. However, Monroe lacks the energy and drive displayed by his two challengers. Differences are stark between those two. Don Early, 82, has a long history of civic involvement including eight years as alderman of the 3rd Ward beginning in 1985 and currently as the West Chicago city treasurer. He rightly cites his experience as his top asset. Rosalinda Delgado, 23, does not have a long list of civic accomplishments, but she has involved herself in many community activities and organizations as a volunteer. She is respectful of the two men she is running against but says her fresh outlook and connection to the Hispanic community especially are needed to move West Chicago forward. Given that a majority of the city and that, by the candidates’ accounts, 80 percent of this ward is Hispanic, that connection cannot be underestimated. We agree with Delgado that she represents the future of the city, and we endorse her for Ward 2 alderman.